PROFILE
Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association, an organization of business firms involved in pharmaceutical retailing as well as in wholesaling was formed in the year 1973 with the main objective of enforcing the price uniformity. NCDA is purely a non-government organization of pharmaceutical trade profession.
ABSTRACT
Allopathic medicine was introduced in the Himalayan Kingdom; Nepal in 1917 with a doctor, during that time ayurvedic medicine was the prime method prevailing for treatment along with few other traditional medications. It was in 1944, the only hospital with 60 beds for male, 40 beds for female along with 8 male doctors and 3 lady doctors was established in the capital. After the major political change in 1951 the country started progressing in different areas including health. Then only, the private allopathic pharmaceutical traders evolved, particularly confined in the capital only. A decade latter when they gave a thought in farming up a trade organization.
SYNOPSIS
As the market grew, the number of pharmaceutical traders grew simultaneously in an expanded area outside the capital valley too. Medical council act 1963 was framed to define the prescribe and this is the first government step to show the concern about modern medicine and its use. Prior to any step taken, in the ethical aspect of the trades they themselves felt the responsibility and thought more importance of the organization. It was them in 1973, Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association was officially registered by Nepal Government with defined feature and its organization structure.
OBJECTIVES
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is granted to government registered firms of pharmaceutical importer, wholesalers and retailers only, on payment of entry fee and annual fee as mentioned in the articulus or memorandum. They have to abide by the rules and regulations of the association.
FUNCTION
The organization functions under the directives of the board of working committee elected every three years from the valid members and with the help of staffs recruited for the secretariat office as specified in the articulus or memorandum.
ACHIEVEMENT
Right from the communique of this organization, it had rendered its service in fulfilling its defined objective particularly, in effecting the price uniformity throughout the country under the consultation with the local administrations.
Before the advent of Narcotic Drug Control Act 1976, this association had made aware of the formulations consisting of the ingredients that come under narcotics and its consciences. Thus it was made mandatory to stamp “SERVED” on the prescription so that the same many not be used repeatedly and discourage the possibility of serving it without prescription.
In 1980, this organization had arranged two Orientation Course for Drug Wholesalers and Retailers successively in Kathmandu and in Biratnagar with the objective of inducing basic knowledge on drug to the people who were already involved in pharmaceutical trade. Later on, this program was officially recognized by the government who had taken it as a prospectus to fulfill the manpower needed in this service because there were only 32 pharmacy graduates in the country during that time, engaged somewhere else leaving none for the service in trade. Since 1993 HMG of Nepal has handed over to this association the conduction of orientation course program under its experienced management.
Taking into consideration, the activities of the association and the importance of the private participation, the government granted the association, membership in the Drug Advisory Board to execute practical aspect relating to the legislation. To implement the Drug Act 1978, who had not enforced the law till 1981, during which Drug Registration Rules and Regulation was framed and later framed Drug Standard Rules and Regulations 1986. This association had played a vital role in conveying the new law and regulation to its members.
This association had been actively extending its expertise as a shareholder and member of board of directors to a non profitable social marketing organization, Nepal Contraceptive Retail Sale Company Limited (Nepal CRS).
Presently NCDA has scattered all over Nepal and had established its zonal branch in fourteen zones of the country and established five district sub branches.
Since 1984 the association is regularly publishing the monthly Bulletin covering adequate information relevant to the trade including Drug Information Column.
Till now, eleventh nationwide conventions have been held to review the achievement of the esteemed subjects and to draw out phase for the year ahead. The seventh convention celebrated the Silver Jubilee of NCDA
NCDA has been implementing a regulation to make record of the pharmaceutical companies in NCDA for their professional security, promotion and unity of the pharmaceutical companies. This has imparted a supportive role in the member to member sale policy of NCDA. No Objection Certificate (NOC) has also been introduced to secure the business of the drug wholesalers.NCDA is on the process of establishing district level sub-branches.
Apart from its regular engagement in its routine job and participation in the different program, this association had been part and part of the national health cure team and is taking part in relief activities for the victims of natural calamities and in other social services etc., to enhance these activities a social service fund has been established.
In addition to above, from 1995 to 2000 NCDA has launched a STD/HIV/AIDS prevention educational program to chemists druggists and alternative health care providers funded by AIDSCAP/Family Health International (FHI), Use as its duty towards fulfilling the goal to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs in Nepal. In addition NCDA has launched a Drug Information Network of Nepal (DINoN) with technical collaboration and founded by United State Pharmacopoeia (USP).